THIS INVENTION relates to window blinds. More particularly, the invention relates to window blinds, or shutters, of the so-called plantation-type. The invention provides for a window blind kit and extends to a window blind assembly which is assembled from the kit.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a window blind kit which comprises a plurality of moulded blind elements having connecting formations which render the blind elements connectable to each other, thereby to form a blind which comprises a mounting frame to which a plurality of slats are pivotally mounted.

The blind elements may be blow moulded. Alternatively, the blind elements may be extrusion moulded. The blind elements may be of a material selected from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate. Preferably, however, the blind elements are of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate.

The blind elements may include a plurality of frame elements. Preferably, the blind elements include four frame elements, comprising a pair of transversal elements and a pair of pillar elements. It will be appreciated that, in use, the pillar elements may typically be substantially upright, with the transversal elements then extending between and connecting the pillar elements. The frame elements may have mounting formations which render the frame elements mountable to each other, thereby to define the mounting frame. Typically, the mounting formations may be adapted complementally to engage each other, e.g. tounge and groove formations. At least some of the mounting formations may be provided by removable mounting inserts which are mountable to at least some of the frame elements.

The frame elements may also have securing formations which render the frame elements securable to each other.

The blind elements may include a plurality of slats which are pivotally mountable to the mounting frame. At least some of the slats may comprise a hollow, one-piece, integral strip of synthetic plastics material.

The slats may be of a material selected from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylchloride and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate. Preferably, however, the slats are of acrylonitrile styrene acrylate. The slats may be pivotally mountable to the mounting frame and thus to at least some of the frame elements. More particularly, the slats may be pivotally mountable at ends thereof to a pair of oppositely disposed frame elements of the mounting frame, hereinafter referred to as slat-mounting frame elements. It will be appreciated that the slat-mounting frame elements may thus typically be either the pillar elements or the transversal elements. Preferably, however, the slat-mounting frame elements are the pillar elements.

The slats and the slat-mounting frame elements may have interconnectable mounting formations which enable pivotal mounting of the slats to the mounting frame. Typically, the mounting formations may comprise pivot formations and complementally shaped receiving formations, the pivot formations being pivotally receivable by and engageable with the receiving formations and defining a pivot axis about which the slats are pivotable when mounted to the mounting frame. In one embodiment of the invention, the pivot formations may comprise trunnions and the receiving formations may comprise receiving sockets which are complementally shaped, in outline at least, to the trunnions and in which the trunnions are thus complementally receivable, pivotally to mount the slats to the slat-mounting frame elements. The trunnions may be longitudinally reciprocally displaceably mountable to their associated slats and/or frame elements. Typically, the trunnions may be mountable in trunnion sockets which are sized so as to allow longitudinal reciprocal displacement of the trunnions when mounted therein. Resiliency deformable elements may be receivable in the trunnion sockets so as to bias their associated trunnions in a direction out of their associated trunnion sockets, with the trunnions being longitudinally displaceable into their associated trunnion sockets by deformation of the resiliency deformable elements. Preferably, the trunnions may be provided by respective ends of the slats such that the trunnions project outwardly therefrom, each slat thus having a pair of oppositely directed trunnions at opposite ends thereof. In such a case, the slats may be provided with end caps which are mountable to ends of the slats and to which end caps the trunnions are mounted, with the end caps thus defining the trunnion sockets.

When the trunnions are provided by the slats as hereinbefore described, the receiving sockets may be provided by the slat-mounting frame elements. More particularly, the slat-mounting frame elements may include slat- mounting inserts which are mountable to the slat-mounting frame elements and which provide the slat receiving openings or sockets. Typically, the slat-mounting inserts may be connectable to their associated frame elements by complementally shaped insert mounting formations, e.g. tounge and groove formations. At least one slat may be provided with a solar photovoltaic convertor panel which is mounted to an outer surface of the associated slat.

When a solar panel is so provided, the solar photovoltaic convertor panel may be operatively connectable along a conductive path to solar energy storage devices associated with the blind. The conductive path may terminate in an energy discharge point provided by the blind, the storage device being operatively connectable to the discharge point. The conductive path may include a conductive interface between solar panel-carrying slats and the mounting frame, the interface typically being provided by the engagement of the trunnions with the receiving formations.

The blind elements may also include a plurality of slat manipulating levers which are securable to the slats and are able to effect pivotal displacement thereof.

Typically, the blind elements include a manipulating lever for each slat, the levers being securable to their associated slats so as to manipulate pivotal displacement of the slat in a first order lever fashion.

The blind elements may further include a slat manipulating element, which is connectable to at least some, typically all of the slat manipulating levers, so as to enable synchronous operation of the slat manipulating levers and, accordingly, synchronous pivotal displacement of the slats. The slat manipulating element may be provided with connecting elements which enable connection of the manipulating element to the slat manipulating levers. Typically, the connecting elements may be pivotally connectable to the manipulating levers, preferably by a trunnion and rivet arrangement. The invention extends to a window blind, which is assembled from a window blind kit as hereinbefore described.

More particularly, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a blind assembly comprising a plurality of moulded blind elements which are interconnected with each other by means of connecting formations provided by the blind elements thereby forming a blind which comprises a mounting frame to which a plurality of slats are pivotally mounted.

The blind elements and slats may be as hereinbefore described.

The invention will now be described by way of illustrative example only, with reference to the following drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a partially assembled plantation blind kit, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a slat of the plantation blind kit of Figure

1 ;

Figure 3 shows a perspective front view of a plantation blind, assembled from the plantation blind kit of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 shows a perspective rear view of the plantation blind of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1 , reference numeral 10 generally indicates a plantation blind kit, in accordance with the invention. The kit 10 comprises a plurality of extrusion moulded blind elements, which are illustrated as having been partially assembled into a plantation blind 100 (as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4). The blind elements of the kit 10 include four cylindrical frame elements, in the form of two oppositely directed pillar elements 12a and two oppositely directed transversal elements 12b, the elements 12a, 12b being connectable to each other form a mounting frame 102 (as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3). Each of the pillar elements 12a and the transversal elements 12b has a hollow interior 13 and has a longitudinally extending generally U-shaped groove 20 which is defined from end to end along an operatively inwardly facing surface of a wall 21 thereof.

The blind elements of the kit 10 further include four mounting inserts in the form of connection elements 16, which render the transversal elements 12b connectable to the pillar elements 12a.

The connection elements 16 each have a body which is complementally shaped to and snugly partially receivable within the hollow interior 13 of the transversal elements 12b. The connection elements 16 each further have a pair of parallel integrally formed longitudinally extending tounge-like mounting formations 18a, which are engageable with complementally shaped portions of the longitudinally extending grooves 20 of the pillar elements 12a. The connection elements 16 are further each provided with a screw 43 which constitutes a securing formation and which is securable to ends of the connection elements 16. In use, a head portion of each screw 43 intrudes into the interior of its associated pillar element 12a through an aperture (not illustrated) defined in the wall 21 of the pillar element 12a when its associated connection element 16 mounts its associated transversal element 12b to the pillar element 12a by engagement of the tounge-like connecting formations 18a of the connection element 16 with the longitudinal groove 20 of the pillar element 12a. The connection element 16 and its associated transversal element 12b are then secured to the pillar element 12a by means of a locking element 41 which slots over and wedges in between the head of the screw 43 and an inner surface of the wall 21 in washer-like fashion.

Strengthening tubes 45 are receivable inside the transversal elements 12b, serving to provide additional support to the transversal elements 12b. The tubes 45 are typically of metal, preferably aluminium, and are shaped snugly to be received in their associated transversal elements 12b behind the connection elements 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubes 45 are circular cylindrical. The blind elements of the kit 10 further include four slats 200, which are connectable to the two pillar elements 12a. The pillar elements 12a thus constitute slat mounting frame elements. In Figure 2, one of the slats 200 is shown in exploded view. It will be appreciated that Figure 2 shows only one possible embodiment of the slats 200. Alternatively to the represented slat 200, and in fact preferably, the slats may comprise a hollow, one-piece, integral strip of synthetic plastics material. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the slat 200 comprises an outer sleeve 202 in the form of a hollow, one-piece, integral strip of synthetic plastics material in which a central slat element 204 is receivable. The central slat element 204 comprises a front panel 206 and a rear panel 208, which are connectable to each other, thereby to define a passage 210 therebetween. An insert 212, typically comprising a solar convertor or component thereof, is receivable in the passage 210.

The slat 200 is further provided with two end-caps 214. The end caps 214 are partially snugly receivable within the sleeve 202 and each define a peripheral shoulder 216 which limits the extent to which the end cap is receivable within the sleeve 202 by, in use, abutting against an outer edge 218 of the sleeve 202. A central trunnion socket 220, in which a trunnion 222 and a resiliency deformable element in the form of a spring 224 are receivable, is defined in the end cap 214. The trunnion 222 is of a conductive material.

A trunnion guide member 226 is also receivable in the socket 220, from an inner end thereof. Six longitudinally spaced securing apertures 228 are defined in each of the end caps 214, three securing apertures 228 being disposed on either side of the socket 220. The slat 200 is also provided with a plurality of end cap securing elements 230, each being associated and engageable with a securing aperture 228 and by which the end caps 214 are securable to the sleeve 202.

The blind elements of the kit 10 further include two slat mounting members 24, by which the slats 200 are mountable to the pillar elements 12a. The mounting members 24 are shaped complementally to and are securely receivable in the grooves 20 which are defined in the pillar elements 12a, such that, when received in the grooves 20, an operatively outer face 23 of the each of the mounting members 24 is flush with the operatively inner face 21 of their associated pillar elements 12a. More particularly, each mounting member 24 has a pair of tounge-like securing formations 18b which extend longitudinally along a rear face 25 of the mounting member 24 and are shaped similarly to the securing formations 18a of the connecting elements 16, thus also being securely engageable with complemental portions of the grooves 20 on the pillar elements 12a. The slat mounting members 24 are shorter than the pillar elements 12a, thus not filling the grooves 20 longitudinally when received therein, and thereby allowing the connecting formations 18a of the connection elements 16 still to be receivable in the grooves 20 of the pillar elements 12a when the mounting elements 24 are mounted to the pillar elements 20. Each slat mounting member 24 further defines slat receiving formations in the form of longitudinally spaced receiving apertures 26, equal in number to the number of slats 200 included in the kit 10, i.e. four in the present case. The receiving apertures 26 are complementally shaped to the trunnions 222 of the slats 200 such that, in use, the trunnions 222 are receivable in the apertures 26, thereby to mount their associated slat 200 to the mounting elements 24 and thus to the pillar elements 12a and the mounting frame 102.

The mounting members 24 are preferably of a metallic material such that, when the trunnions 222 are engaged therewith, a conductive interface is formed between the slats 200 and the pillar elements 12a.

The blind elements of the kit 10 further include a slat manipulating lever 30 for each slat. The slat manipulating levers 30 (illustrated more clearly in Figure 2), each comprise a rivet formation 33 and a lever member 35 which extend in opposite directions from an arcuate base formation 36. A cylindrical fastening element (not visible), which is interlockable with the sleeve 202 of the slat 200, by engaging a complementally shaped blind socket 232 which is defined in the sleeve 202, protrudes from an inner surface of the arcuate base formation 36. The blind elements of the kit 10 further include a slat manipulating element 28. The manipulating element 28 is of generally U-shaped cross section and thus defines a longitudinally extending, generally U-shaped groove 27. The manipulating element 28 is connectable to each of the slat manipulating levers 30 independently by means of respective actuating elements 28.1 . The actuating elements 28.1 each have a base formation 29, which is securely receivable within the U-shaped groove 23 of the manipulating element 28, thereby to secure the actuating element 28.1 to the manipulating element 28. A trunnion 31 protrudes from the base formation 29 of the actuating element 28.1 . In use, the trunnions 31 are received by the rivet formations 33 of their associated levers 30, thereby operatively connecting the manipulating element 28 to the slats 200.

The manipulating element 28 is further provided with spacers 34, similarly shaped to the base members 29 of the actuating elements 28.1 and being receivable within the U-shaped groove so as longitudinally to space the actuating elements 28.1 from each other when engaged with the manipulating element 28.

The blind elements of the kit 10 also include end caps 40 which are mountable in open ends of the pillar elements 12a.

The blind elements further include two closure members 37 which are have engaging formations rendering the closure members securable to the transversal elements 12b, by engaging the longitudinal grooves 20 of the elements 12b.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a plantation blind which has been assembled from a plantation blind kit 10 in accordance with the invention and as illustrated in Figure 1 .

The blind 100 comprises the mounting frame 102, which consists of two pillar elements 12a and two transversal elements 12b which have been connected to each other by means of connecting elements 16 (not visible). A slat mounting member 24 is mounted on an inner side of each of the pillar elements 12a.

Four slats 200 extend between the pillar elements 12a. Trunnions 222 (not visible) of the slats 200 extend through the mounting apertures 26 (not visible) of the mounting members 24, thereby pivotally mounting the slat 200 to the mounting member 24 and thus to the pillar elements 12a and the mounting frame 102.

Two of the slats 200 are provided with solar convertor panels 60 on outer surfaces thereof. The convertor panels 60 are connected to an energy storage device (not illustrated) long a conductive path (not illustrated). The conductive path comprises respective conductive wires (not illustrated) which connect each solar panel 60 to one of the trunnions 222 of its associated slat 200. By means of the conductive interface constituted by the engagement of the trunnions 222 with the mounting members 24, the conductive path is then extended along at least one of the mounting members 24. The mounting member/s 24 with which the solar panels 60 are thus in conductive communication are, in turn, in conductive communication with an energy discharge point (not illustrated) of the blind 100 in the form of an electrical socket (not illustrated), to which socket an energy storage device, in the form of a battery (not illustrated), is operatively connected.

In use, solar energy is converted by the panels 60 into electrical current which is passed along the conductive path to the battery, thereby to charge the battery.

The blind 100 is further provided with a slat manipulating element 28 which is connected to each of the slats 200 independently by means of interconnected actuating elements 28.1 and slat manipulating levers 30, the actuating elements 28.1 being mounted to the manipulating element 28, and the manipulating levers 30, being mounted to the slat 200.

In use, the longitudinal displacement of the manipulating element 18 results in the displacement of the slat manipulating levers 30 in a first order lever fashion by which the slats 200 are pivotally displaced about their pivotal connections 16, thereby selectively opening and closing the slats.